Multi-element reed capsule sealing apparatus and method for making

ABSTRACT

A machine for assembling the plural contact pairs of a multi-element reed capsule switch inside of a glass envelope and maintaining the overall assembly in alignment while the glass envelope is heated and sealed around the terminal ends of the contact pairs. Plural pairs of the reed switch contact members and the glass envelope are manually assembled into intermediate loading fixtures. The machine then automatically transfers the contact members and glass envelope to chucks for maintaining them in correct alignment; the chucks position the contact members inside of the glass envelope; the machine pressure chamber closes and is rapidly evacuated of atmosphere, flushed, and pressurized with an inert gas and the glass sealed about the contacts all while maintaining the correct alignment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is generally related to the fabrication ofreed switches. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine andmethods for semi-automatically assembling and sealing in correctalignment inside a glass envelope the plural contact pairs of amulti-element reed capsule.

In multi-element reed switches, plural pairs of magnetizable switchcontact members are positioned in overlapping spaced relationship withina non-magnetizable envelope which most frequently is glass. The switchcontacts are opened or closed through the selective application of acontrolled magnetic field. Switches of this general type are well knownand are used by the hundreds of thousands in telephone and otherswitching networks. Because of the large quantities needed, it isdesirable that the final assembly of the switch contacts inside theenvelope be made rapidly and that minimum variations in contactcharacteristics be maintained. One manner of achieving these goals isthrough machine assembly which is both faster than manual assembly andalso more repeatable than manual operations. However, maintaining theprecise alignments required all through the assembly and sealing processhas proven difficult to achieve in a fast consistent manner. Some manualadjustment of alignment after assembly has been required or, a generallyunsatisfactory rejection rate encountered.

Means are known in the prior art for facilitating the automaticmanufacture of reed switches including in at least a conceptual sense anumber of the basic steps and methods of this invention, but the priorart is lacking in a number of the refinements found necessary ifautomatic high-speed assembly with high quality dimensionally accurateassemblies are to be achieved. Thus the patents of Pityo, U.S. Pat. No.3,537,276 and Reck, U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,081 are both directed toautomatic assembly of reed switches but not, multi-element reed switchesas with the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes a station for loading of the plural pairs of reedcontact members and a glass cylinder in an intermediate fixture exteriorof the fabricating area. These elements are then transferred to thereedblade and glass chucks inside the fabricating area. The intermediatefixture then retracts and returns to the loading station. In acontinuing cycle, one set of contact reedblades is positioned within theglass envelope extending outwardly from one end of the envelope andsimultaneously the mating set is positioned in complementary fashionextending outward the other end. This positioning establishes bothcontact pair overlap and gap and, the chucks maintain thesecharacteristics throughout the subsequent sealing process. A pressurechamber closes around the assembled elements, evacuated, flushed, andpressurized with an inert gas. The chamber is pressurized and theassembly then sealed by infrared energy -- first at one end and then theother. Following this, the pressure chamber is opened, the reedbladechucks release the blades and move away form the assembly and thecompleted switch removed. The cycle is then repeated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a multi-element reed capsule switch of the typethe invention is designed to automatically fabricate;

FIG. 2 is a section taken at 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified front perspective view of the principal machinecomponents;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the fabricating area of the machine withthe exterior intermediate reedblade and glass cylinder loader removed;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the principal machine components but with thepressure chamber removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom reedblade transfer fixture;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the reedblade intermediate loader arm;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottom intermediate arm reedbladeholding chuck;

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate the loading sequence of the reedbladesinto the reedblade intermediate loader arm from the bottom reedbladetransfer fixture;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the reedblade holding chuck of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the reedblade chuck;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the reedblade chuck;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 10 showing details ofthe reedblade chuck and its manner of holding the reedblades;

FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C show the sequence of operations involved in thetransfer of reedblades from the intermediate loader arm to the reedbladechuck assemblies;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, with parts cut-away, illustrating theglass envelope chuck of the invention;

FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C illustrate the sequence of operations involved inthe assembly of the chucked reedblades into the glass envelope and theformation of a reed switch, and

FIG. 17 illustrates in graphical form the sequence of machine operationsand their interrelation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the appearance of a reed switch 20 of thegeneral type fabricated using the inventive apparatus and method. Agenerally tubular glass envelope 22 has had both of its ends meltedaround terminal shanks 24 of reedblades 26 to obtain seal areas 28. Theseal areas form a hermetic enclosure for the switch blades 30 which arean integral part of reedblades 26. The enclosed volume is typicallyfilled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, to improve the reliabilityand lengthen the life of the switch contact pairs. This type of switchis well known and is used in great quantities in switching networks.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the basic components of the machine. In eachof the drawings certain details have been omitted to improve the clarityof the drawing presentation. A base plate 32 supports the principalmachine components including a laterally movable loader transfer armsupport 34, a vertically movable pressure chamber assembly 36, bottomreedblade transfer fixture 38, and front 40 and rear 42 infrared heatsources. The loader transfer arm support is secured to and is movablewith main slide 44 in the direction of double arrow 46.

Pressure chamber 36 is shown in its uppermost position in FIGS. 3 and 4and is movable from this position downward, in the direction of arrow48, by actuator rods 50 to which it is secured. The pressure chamber ismaintained in its uppermost position while the reedblades and glassenvelopes are assembled into their respective chucks and later, whilethe completed reed switch is removed. The pressure chamber is loweredover the chucked reedblades and glass envelopes to a closed chamberposition achieved when it makes sealing contact with an O ring 52mounted in a head base 54. The chamber is maintained in its loweredposition and evacuated, flushed and pressurized with an inert gas duringthe interval that the two infrared heat sources effect the sealing ofthe glass envelope about the terminal shanks of the reedblades. Loweringof the pressure chamber is effected by a yoke 56 secured to the actuatorrods and by a double acting air cylinder 58, a portion of whose ram isshown.

Assembly of the reed switch commences with an operator manuallyassembling four reedblades 26, terminal ends down, into the four slotsformed in the top of the preloader guide bushing 62 which is secured onthe top of bottom reedblade transfer fixture 38. Loader transfer armsupport 34 is moved on slide 44 to the left from the position shown inFIG. 5 to a position where the centerline 64 of the reedblade loader armassembly 66 is aligned with the center line 68 of preloader guidebushing 62. The main slide and loader transfer arm support are moved bythe action of a main slide air cylinder (not shown). When the slide ismoved to the left, its left end 72 contacts the stop button 74 on leftslide stop assembly 70. At that point air cylinder 76 retracts stopbutton 74 cushioning the impact of the slide on the stop button. Stopbutton 74 is shown in its extended position in FIGS. 3 and 5.

With the centerlines of the reedblade loader arm assembly and the bottomreedblade transfer fixture aligned, the operator loads the four topreedblades, blade ends down, into the slots 78 of the chuck 80 on thetop of the loader arm assembly 66 as shown in FIG. 7. While the operatoris loading the four top reedblades, the bottom four which had previouslybeen assembled into the slots in the bottom reedblade transfer fixture38, are being transferred automatically to the bottom intermediate armblade holding chuck 82. This automatic transfer sequence is illustratedfor one pair of reedblades in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 9A the reedblades 26 have been loaded into the bottom reedbladetransfer fixture 38 and the reedblade loader arm assembly 66 positioneddirectly over it. In FIG. 9B, an air cylinder 84 connected to the fourhollow guide pins 86 raises the pins to the position shown. Thereedblades are carried with the guide pins and partially enter thebottom intermediate arm blade holding chuck 82. The blade raising actionof air cylinder 84 continues until actuator cylinder guide 88 contactsthe top end 90 of the slot in the side of the bottom reedblade transferfixture 38 (FIG. 6). The air cylinder is not used to fully raise thereedblades since, if this were done, any variation in the length of thereedblades would either cause a variation in their chucked position or,by forcing them against a stop cause some deformation.

After the reedblades are raised to the position shown in FIG. 9B, lowpressure air is directed through actuator cylinder guide 88 and thenceupwardly in the direction of arrow 96 through hollow guide pins 86. Thisgently lifts the reedblades until they reach the position shown in FIG.9C where the switch blades 30 and terminal shanks are aligned with arecess for receiving them in bottom chuck 82 and where the top edge ofthe switch blades contacts the bottom surface of the top chuck 80. Thedistance between top and bottom chucks 80 and 82 has been exaggerated inFIGS. 7 and 9 to facilitate illustration. The recess for receiving thereedblades is best shown in FIG. 8. When the reedblades reach theirfinal position, a vacuum is applied to them through ports 94 in the topand bottom intermediate arm blade holding chucks, 80 and 82,respectively. The applied vacuum retains the reedblades in positionuntil they are transferred to the reedblade chucks used to hold themduring final assembly. After the reedblades are secured in position bythe vacuum, air cylinder 84 and guide pins 86 are retracted and the lowair pressure through the guide pins is shut off.

While the main slide 44 and loader transfer arm support 34 are in theirfar left position and after loading of the eight reedblades, theoperator manually loads a glass envelope 22. The envelope is positionedin line with the curved end of glass loader transfer arm 98 and restingupon the top surface 100 of bottom reedblade transfer fixture 38. Anapplied vacuum at the curved end of arm 98 retains the glass envelope inalignment therewith.

The main slide 44 and loader transfer arm are now moved to the righttoward a position where the centerline 64 of reedblade loader armassembly 66 will be aligned with the machine main centerline 102 asshown in FIG. 5. As the slide moves to the right, its right end 104contacts the stop button 106 on right slide stop assembly 108. At thatpoint air cylinder 110 retracts stop button 106 cushioning the impact ofthe slide on the stop button. The loader transfer arm support is nowpositioned to permit the transfer of the eight reedblades held in itsloader arm assembly 66 to the two reedblade chucks that will hold themduring final assembly of the reed switch. Since an understanding of theconstruction and operation of the reedblade chucks will facilitateunderstanding of the transfer operation, this is described next.

The sealing machine has an upper and a lower reedblade chuck assemblyfor holding the reedblades during final assembly of the reed switch.Both the upper, 112, and the lower, 114, chuck assemblies are mountedupon a support post assembly 116. Since the two reedblade chucks aresubstantially identical, only one will be described.

The construction of the lower reedblade chuck 114 is illustrated inFIGS. 10-13 and the sequence of operations involved in the transfer ofthe reedblades from the loader transfer arm to the two reedblade chucksis illustrated in FIGS. 14A-C. Cover plates have not been shown in FIGS.10 and 12 to clarify operation and FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of theportion of FIG. 10 taken at 13--13.

Each of the reedblade chuck assemblies, upper as well as lower, is heldand supported by a base 118 which is, in turn, secured to the supportpost assembly 116. The base is also a structural part of the chuckassembly providing guides for the reciprocating motion of clamp slidesas they alternately open and close on the terminal shank portions 24 ofeach of the reedblades 26. Thus, base 118 contains two guide slots 120intersecting each other at a 90° angle in which slots clamp slides 122reciprocate.

The reciprocation of clamp slides 122 to clamp the reedblade terminalends is achieved by air cylinder 124 acting upon a right and left slideactuator, 126 and 128 respectively. Left slide actuator 128 in additionto its actuating function, also acts as a support for air cylinder 124and its inlet connector 130. When air is applied to air cylinder 124,cylinder actuator 132 is moved in the direction of arrow 134 carryingwith it two guide rods 136 which are journaled in left slide actuator128 and secured to right side actuator 126. This causes right sideactuator 126 to move outward in the direction of arrow 138 guided by thesquare section 140 of base 118 and left side actuator 128 to also moveoutward in the direction of arrow 142, guided by the same square section140.

As the left and right side actuators move outward they push on bearings144 which are carried on bearing pins 146 which are each, in turn,secured to clamp sides 122. Thus, the clamp slides are also movedoutward increasing the clearance between their tips 148 and clamp pins150 into which the terminal ends 24 of the reedblades fit. Clamp pins150 are secured in a round recess 152 in base 118 by a roll pin 158. Theunclamping outward movements of clamp slides 122 are individuallyrestrained by tension springs 154. The hidden ends of tension springs154 are anchored to pins (not shown) positioned in the bored holes 156in base 118 into which the springs extend. Then, when air to cylinder124 is released the springs 154 restore clamp slides 122 to their closedor clamping position. This is advantageous since no energy is expendedin holding the reedblades in their clamped position. Anotheradvantageous feature of having springs maintain the clamp slides 122 intheir clamped position is that there is no physical linkage between theair cylinder 124 and slides 122. Thus, the pressure on each slide can beaccurately adjusted to make it uniform on all reedblade terminals 24.

As can be appreciated, the reed members 26 must be maintained in veryexact position during the sealing operation and, there must be noappreciable rotation when they are clamped into the reedblade chucks.Since any lateral movement of clamp slides 122 would result in suchrotation, it is necessary to prevent such rotation while simultaneouslypermitting free reciprocation of the slides. It is an advantageousfeature of the invention that both lateral movement prevention and freereciprocation are achieved through the use of the novel roller bearingsbest shown in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 13, a novel roller bearing construction permits morepreloading than can ordinarily be achieved and this preloading preventslateral movement of the slides. The novel construction, however, stillpermits the necessary free slide movement which would ordinarily behindered by the extent of the preloading employed. This is accomplishedby using a conventional roller bearing comprising a bearing cage 160 andplural conventional rollers 162 on one side of slide 122. Then on theopposite side of the slide there is inserted between the slide and ashim 168, a novel bearing comprising a bearing cage 160 and tubularrollers 164. The tubular structure of rollers 164 allows them to deformto an imperceptably oval shape as they are fitted into a space slightlynarrower than their normal outside diameter. Not only does this preventlateral movement of the slides and permits free reciprocation, itautomatically compensates for any wear or expansion and contraction ofslides 122.

From the foregoing, the manner of operation of the reedblade chuckassemblies can be seen as well as the many novel features of theirconstruction. Intentionally, there has been a minimum of discussionconcerning fasteners, cover plates and other elements whose function isbelieved to be clear from the drawing presentation.

When the reedblade loader arm assembly 66 was moved to the right toalign it with the machine centerline, the upper and lower reedbladechuck assemblies were being held in their highest and lowest positions,respectively. In this position, when reedblade loader arm assembly 66 ismoved into the machine work area by air cylinder 170, the terminalshanks 24 of the reed members 26 fixtured in its chucks 80 and 82 clearthe reedblade chuck assemblies. An adjustable stop 172 permits accurateadjustment of loader arm assembly travel so that the vertical centerlineof chucks 80 and 82 is coincident with the vertical centerline of thetwo reedblade chuck assemblies 112 and 114. This is the position shownin FIG. 14A wherein only the clamp slides 122 and clamp pins 150 of thereedblade chuck assemblies are shown. Both the upper and lower reedbladechuck assemblies are secured to support post 116 by linear bearings 174.Air cylinder operated push rods within the support post control theraising and lowering of the reedblade chuck assemblies. The rod foractuation of upper chuck assembly 112 is shown at 176 in FIG. 4. The aircylinder 178 and hollow rod used to actuate the lower reedblade chuckassembly have not been shown in order to simplify the drawingpresentation since they are conventional in nature.

After positioning of the reed members in alignment with the reedbladechuck assemblies, air cylinder 178 is actuated to move the chuckassemblies together to come to rest against their innermost stops onsupport post assembly 116. In this position that chucks inner surfacesare then substantially equidistant from the horizontal centerline of thereed members 26 as fixtured in chucks 80 and 82 of reedblade loader armassembly 66. The terminal shanks 24 of the reed members 26 arepositioned in the slots formed when clamp slides 122 are in the openposition.

When the terminal shanks 24 of reed members 26 are in position in theirrespective slots of the reedblade chuck assemblies, the chuck assembliesair cylinder is deactivated to clamp the shanks 24. This is the positionshown in FIG. 14B. Thereafter, the vacuum that had been holding the reedmembers in the chucks 80 and 82 of loader arm assembly 66 is replaced bylow air pressure releasing the reed members and cushioning them toprevent abrading against chucks 80 and 82. Air cylinder 178 is thenactivated to move the reedblade chuck assemblies 112 and 114 apart toclear the main loading fixture. See FIG. 14C. Air cylinder 170 is thenactivated to retract reedblade loader arm assembly 66 from the sealingarea of the machine.

The next event in the sequence of machine operation is the movement ofthe loader transfer arm support 34 a short distance to the left to bringthe centerline 180 of glass loader transfer arm 98 into alignment withthe machines main centerline 102. It is an advantageous feature of theinvention that selective actuation of right slide stop assembly 108 canbe used to effect this differential movement. Air pressure in cylinder110 is increased until it is greater than that applied to the main slideair cylinder (not shown) and which had moved loader transfer arm 34 toits rightmost position as shown in FIG. 5. This differential in pressurebetween the main slide air cylinder and air cylinder 110 causes loadertransfer arm 34 to move to the left until a stop in slide stop assembly108 is reached. At this point centerline 180 and 102 are aligned.

Air cylinder 182 is then actuated to move the glass loader transfer arm98 into the machine sealing area. A stop 184 limits movement to thatnecessary to align the vertical centerline of the glass envelope 22 atthe end of arm 98 with the vertical centerline of glass chuck assembly186. Glass chuck assembly is non-movably secured to support postassembly 116 and is shown, partly in section, in FIG. 15.

Glass chuck assembly 186 is of the self-centering type; that is, it willmaintain the vertical centerline of the glass envelope 22 on the machinecenterline irrespective of outside diameter variations in the envelope.At the end of the last previous machine cycle and prior to movement ofglass loader transfer arm 98 into the sealing area, the left and rightglass chucks, 188 and 190 respectively, of the chuck assembly 186 wereopened to release the last completed reed switch. In the open positionthere is no interference with movement of the loaded glass loadertransfer arm. Opening of the glass chuck assembly is effected by a glasschuck air cylinder (not shown) but below the machine base plate 32 andacting on a bell crank (also not shown) to effect rotation of glasschuck actuator rod 192 and pulley 194 in the direction of arrow 196.This winds up bead chain 198 moving left glass chuck 188 in thedirection of arrow 200 toward the open position. Left glass chuck 188carries a rack segment 202 which meshes with pinion gear 204 which inturn, meshes with rack segment 206 carried by right glass chuck 190.Because of this gear train, as left glass chuck 188 is pulled in thedirection of arrow 200, right glass chuck is driven an equal distance inthe opposite direction further opening the glass chuck assembly 186.

Left and right glass chucks 188 and 190 are maintained in alignment witheach other by glass chuck mounting block 207, pinion gear 204 and aroller bearing (not shown) positioned between them and rotatable aboutcap screw 208 secured between retainer block 210 and block 207. As leftglass chuck 188 is moved in the direction of arrow 200 toward the openposition, an extension spring (not shown) connected between chuck 188and support post assembly 116 is extended. Thus, when the glass chuckair cylinder is deenergized the extension spring will move glass chucks188 and 190 toward each other to clamp glass envelope 22 in the positionshown in FIG. 16A.

After the glass chuck 186 clamps the glass envelope in the positionshown in FIG. 16A, the vacuum that had been holding glass envelope 22 inposition on loader transfer arm 98 is turned off and air cylinder 182 isactuated to retract the transfer arm from the sealing area of themachine.

After withdrawal of the glass loader transfer arm 98, the upper andlower reedblade chuck assemblies which had been in their extreme upperand lower positions as shown in FIG. 16A, are now moved to theirinnermost stops on support post assembly 116 as shown in FIG. 16B. Thismovement causes the reed members 26 to reassume their original positionas fixtured in bottom reedblade transfer fixture 38 and chuck 80.However, they are now positioned in this relationship inside of theglass envelope 22 which will enclose and support the completed reedswitch 20.

After the reedblade chuck assemblies move together to the position shownin FIG. 16B, loader transfer arm assembly 34 is moved to the extremeleft until the reedblade loader arm assembly 66 is again positioned overthe bottom reedblade transfer fixture 38. In this position, thecenterline 212 of the front infrared source 40 is in alignment with themachine main centerline 102. Cylinder 58 is then actuated to close thepressure assembly 36 against its seal, the chamber evacuated, purged andthen pressurized with a dry gas. Then both front and rear infraredsources 40 and 42 are energized to effect sealing of the upper end ofenvelope 22 around the terminal shanks 24. The two energy sources arethen switched to an "idle" mode and the infrared sources are moveddownward on linear bearings 214 and 216 by the actions of theirrespective air cylinders (not shown). The two energy sources are thenagain energized to effect sealing of the lower end of reed switch 20.

Following sealing of the lower end of reed switch 20, the energy sourcesare again switched to an "idle" mode. The pressure chamber is thenexhausted of its atmosphere following which it opens moving up to theposition shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Upper and lower reedblade chuckassemblies then open and move outward to the positions shown in FIGS. 4and 16C. The infrared sources are then moved to the upper sealingposition by their respective air cylinders and the loader transfer armsupport moves to its extreme right to complete the machine cycle. Withthe machine at rest the operator presses a button to open the glasschucks 186 and then removes the completed reed switch. The machine isthen ready for initiation of another sealing cycle.

The foregoing verbal description of machine operation is showngraphically in FIG. 17 where 21 machine functions are described in termsof a series of 39 principal events. In FIG. 17, time increases from leftto right for each of the 21 machine functions. Each of the principalevents is illusrtated as a vertical change in the function line with theevents being numbered E1, E2, etc. The five operator functions are: (1)start, (2) load the 4 bottom reed members, (3) load the 4 top reedmembers, (4) load the glass envelope and (5) operate pushbutton to openglass chucks and remove completed reed switch. These operator functionsare shown in their proper time sequence at the bottom of the FIG. 17graph.

Because they are conventional in nature, the details of the machinesequencing system and the pneumatic circuit for the many air cylindershave not been shown or described in detail. In machine embodimentsconstructed to date, sequencing has been accomplished by a timer motorwhich turns a cam shaft having cams for controlling the sequence ofevents for the 21 machine functions. Each cam on the cam shaft is soformed that it will close one or more electrical switches in theprescribed sequence. The switches, in turn, either directly controlelectrical events such as energizing of the infrared sources or,alternately, they control the solenoids used to actuate the valves whichconnect the various vacuum and pressure lines to the air cylinders andpressure chamber that comprise the machine's pneumatic circuit.

Since the multi-element reed capsule sealing apparatus of the presentinvention assemblies reed capsules having critical tolerances in the 1to 5 thousandths range, certain portions of the apparatus are fabricatedfrom metal alloys having low coefficients of thermal expansion in orderto prevent misalignment of clamped parts due to thermal expansion ofmachine components while subjected to high temperatures during thesealing operation. It has been found desirable to fabricate the headbase 54, support post assembly 116, upper and lower chuck assemblies 112and 114, linear bearings 174 and glass chuck assembly 186 of alloymaterials having a coefficient of thermal expansion on the order of 2in./in./°F×10⁻ ⁷.

The invention has been described in detail herein with particularreference to preferred embodiments and features thereof. However, itwill be understood that variations and modifications can be effectedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinaboveand as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for aligning and transferring aplurality of reedblade switch contact members to be assembled into areed capsule switch, comprising:bottom reedblade transfer fixture meansfor aligning and temporarily holding reedblade contact members, saidfixture means having one or more reedblade contact member receivingslots disposed about an axis and aligned with the desired assembledposition of said contact members, one slot for each of the pairs ofcontact members in said reed capsule switch, reedblade loader arm meanshaving an upper and a lower reedblade contact member receiving slot foreach of the contact member pairs in said reed capsule switch, each ofsaid upper and lower slots having a contact member receiving recess andone or more parts therein selectively connectable to a vacuum source anda source of pressurized air, said reedblade loader arm means beingmovable from a position where its slot axis is aligned with that of saidbottom reedblade transfer fixture means to a position where it is not,movable hollow guide pin means within said bottom reedblade transferfixture means, one for each slot therein and aligned therewith, saidguide pin means being selectively movable between a retracted positionwherein said slots are substantially flush with the edge of the slotsand an extended position where said contact members extend above saidslots a distance sufficient to partially enter the slots of saidreedblade loader arm means aligned therewith, said hollow guide pinmeans being adapted to conduct air therethrough thereby to eject saidcontact members from the slots of said bottom reedblade transfer fixturemeans.
 2. In a machine for assembling the plural reedblade contact pairsof a multi-element reed capsule switch interior of a glass envelope andhaving means for aligning said contact pairs to their desired assembledpositions outside of their final assembly area, means for transferringsaid contact pairs and said glass envelope to said assembly area in saidaligned positions and means for sealing said contact pairs into saidglass envelope, the improvement in chucking means for holding theterminal shanks of each of the reedblade members in position during saidsealing comprising:reedblade chuck base means having one or more guideslots and a reedblade member receiving recess therein, one or more clamppin means for each reedblade member to be assembled and located in saidmember receiving recess in alignment with said guide slots, one or moreclamp slide means, one for each reedblade member to be assembled, saidclamp slide means being located in said guide slots and reciprocabletherein between a first position clamping said terminal shanks and asecond position where said terminal shanks are unclamped, said terminalshanks being clamped between said clamp pin means and said clamp slidemeans when said clamp slide means are in said first position,selectively operable actuator means connected to each of said clampslide means for effecting movement of said clamp slide means to saidsecond position, spring means connected to each of said clamp slidemeans for biasing each of said clamp slide means toward said firstposition, and preloaded roller bearing means for each of said clampslide means, said preloaded roller bearing comprising tubular rollersconfined in a space less than the normal uncompressed diameter of saidtubular rollers.
 3. In a machine for assembling the plural reedbladecontact pairs of a multi-element reed capsule switch interior of a glassenvelope having means for aligning said contact pairs to their desiredassembled positions outside of their final assembly area, means fortransferring said contact pairs and said glass envelope to said assemblyarea in said aligned positions and means for sealing said contact pairsinto said glass envelope, the improvement in chucking means for holdingthe terminal shanks of each of the reedblade members in position duringsaid sealing comprising:reedblade chuck base means having one or moreguide slots and a reedblade member receiving recess therein, one or moreclamp pin means one for each reedblade member to be assembled andlocated in said member receiving recess in alignment with said guideslots, one or more clamp slide means, one for each reedblade member tobe assembled, said clamp slide means being located in said guide slotsand reciprocable therein between a first position clamping said terminalshanks and a second position where said terminal shanks are unclamped,said terminal shanks being clamped between said clamp means and saidclamp slide means when said clamp slide means are in said firstposition, selectively operable actuator means connected to each of saidclamp slide means for effecting movement of said clamp slide means tosaid second position, (spring) means connected to each of said clampslide means for biasing each of said clamp slide means toward said firstposition, and preloaded roller bearing means for each of said clampslide means, said preloaded roller bearings comprising tubular rollersconfined in a space less than the normal uncompressed diameter of saidtubular rollers, said tubular rollers being on one side of said clampslide means and conventional solid rollers being on the opposite side.4. In a machine for assembling the plural reedblade contact pairs of amulti-element reed capsule switch interior of a glass envelope havingmeans for aligning said contact pairs to their desired assembledpositions outside of their final assembly area, means for transferringsaid contact pairs and said glass envelope to said assembly area inaligned position and means for sealing said contact pairs into saidglass envelope, the improvement in chucking means for holding theterminal shanks of each of the reedblade members in position during saidsealing comprising:preloaded roller bearing means for preventing lateralmovement of the terminal chuck holding means, said preloaded rollerbearing comprising tubular rollers confined in a space less than thenormal uncompressed diameter of said tubular rollers, said tubularrollers being on one side of said clamp slide means and conventionalsolid rollers being on the opposite side.
 5. A method for assembling,aligning and transferring to a movable loader arm means in alignedposition a plurality of reedblade switch contact members, comprising thesteps of:assembling said plurality of reedblades into slots in a bottomreedblade transfer fixture means, moving said loader arm means over saidbottom reedblade transfer fixture means to a position where all of thebottom reedblade receiving slots of each means are aligned, moving eachof said reedblades partly out of the slots in said bottom reedbladetransfer fixture means and partly into said bottom reedblade receivingslots of said loader arm means, and pneumatically completing themovement of said reedblades out of the slots in said bottom reedbladetransfer fixture means and into said bottom reedblade receiving slots ofsaid loader arm.
 6. A method for assembling, aligning and transferringto a movable loader arm means in aligned position a plurality ofreedblade switch contact members comprising one or more reedblade switchcontact pairs of a reed capsule switch, comprising the stepsof:assembling the reedblades comprising the first half of each of saidcontact pairs into slots in a bottom reedblade transfer fixture means,moving said loader arm means over said bottom reedblade transfer fixturemeans to a position where all of the bottom reedblade receiving slots ofeach means are aligned, assembling the reedblades comprising the otherhalf of each of said contact pairs into upper reedblade receiving slotsin said loader arm means, moving each of said reedblades comprising saidfirst half partly out of the slots in said bottom reedblade transferfixture means and partly into said bottom reedblade receiving slots ofsaid loader arm means, and pneumatically completing the movement of saidreedblades comprising said first half out of the slots in said bottomreedblade transfer fixture and into said bottom reedblade receivingslots of said loader arm whereby each of the reedblades comprising acontact pair is positioned in said loader arm means in the position itwill occupy in the finished reed capsule switch.
 7. A method forassembling and aligning a plurality of reedblade switch contact pairs ofa reed capsule switch outside of the final assembly area of the switchand for transferring said contact pairs to said final assembly area inaligned condition, comprising the steps of:assembling the reedbladescomprising the first half of each of said contact pairs into slots in abottom reedblade transfer fixture means, moving a loader arm means oversaid bottom reedblade transfer fixture means to a position where all ofthe bottom reedblade receiving slots of each means are aligned,assembling the reedblades comprising the other half of each of saidcontact pairs into upper reedblade receiving slots in each loader armmeans, moving each of said reedblades comprising said first half partlyout of the slots in said bottom reedblade transfer fixture means andpartly into said bottom reedblade receiving slots of said loader armmeans, pneumatically completing the movement of said reedbladescomprising said first half out of the slots in said bottom reedbladetransfer fixture and into said bottom reedblade receiving slots of saidloader arm whereby each of the reedblades comprising a contact pair ispositioned in said loader arm means about an axis and in the position itwill occupy in the finished reed capsule switch, and moving said loaderarm means to said final assembly area with its said contact pair axisbeing aligned with the axis of the reed capsule switch while it is beingfinal assembled.
 8. A method for assembling and aligning a plurality ofreedblade switch contact pairs of a reed capsule switch outside of thefinal assembly area of the switch and for transferring said contactpairs to said final assembly area in aligned condition, comprising thesteps of:assembling the reedblades comprising the first half of each ofsaid contact pairs into slots in a bottom reedblade transfer fixturemeans, moving a loader arm means over said bottom reedblade transferfixture means to a position where all of the bottom reedblade receivingslots of each means are aligned, assembling the reedblades comprisingthe other half of each of said contact pairs into upper reedbladereceiving slots in said loader arm means with their terminal shanksextending therefrom, moving each of said reedblades comprising saidfirst half partly out of the slots in said bottom reedblade transferfixture means and partly into said bottom reedblade receiving slots ofsaid loader arm means, pneumatically completing the movement of saidreedblades comprising said first half out of the slots in said bottomreedblade transfer fixture and into said bottom reedblade receivingslots of said loader arm whereby each of the reedblades comprising acontact pair is positioned in said loader arm means about an axis and inthe position it will occupy in the finished reed capsule switch and withits terminal shanks extending from said loader arm, moving said loaderarm means to said final assembly area with its said contact pair axisbeing aligned with the axis of the reed capsule switch while it is beingfinal assembled, moving a lower reedblade chuck means into a positionwhere the terminal shanks of the reedblades comprising said first halfare each received in a slot in said lower reedblade chuck assembly,moving an upper reedblade chuck means into a position where the terminalshanks of said reedblades comprising said other half are each receivedin a slot in said upper reedblade chuck assembly, actuating said upperand lower reedblade chuck means to clamp each of said terminal shanks inits slot therein, moving said upper and said lower reedblade chuck meansto disengage the reedblades from said loader arm means, and withdrawingsaid loader arm means from said final assembly area.
 9. In the methodfor assembling, aligning and transferring reedblade switch contact pairsto a final assembly area in accord with claim 8, the additional stepsof:maintaining a vacuum on said reedblades while in said loader armmeans until said upper and lower reedblade chuck means clamp the saidterminal shanks, thereby to secure said reedblades in position untiltransfer to said chuck means, and applying a low pressure gas to saidreedblades in place of said vacuum as they are disengaged from saidloader arm means.
 10. A method for assembling and aligning a pluralityof reedblade switch contact pairs of a reed capsule switch outside ofthe final assembly area of the switch and for transferring said contactpairs and a glass envelope to said final assembly area in alignedcondition, comprising the steps of:assembling the reedblades comprisingthe first half of each of said contact pairs into slots in a bottomreedblade transfer fixture means, moving a loader arm means over saidbottom reedblade transfer fixture means to a position where all of thebottom reedblade receiving slots of each means are aligned, assemblingthe reedblades comprising the other half of each of said contact pairsinto upper reedblade receiving slots in said loader arm means with theirterminal shanks extending therefrom, moving each of said reedbladescomprising said first half partly out of the slots in said bottomreedblade transfer fixture means and partly into said bottom reedbladereceiving slots of said loader arm means, pneumatically completing themovement of said reedblades comprising said first half out of the slotsin said bottom reedblade transfer fixture and into said bottom reedbladereceiving slots of said loader arm whereby each of the reedbladescomprising a contact pair is positioned in said loader arm means aboutan axis and in the position it will occupy in the finished reed capsuleswitch and with its terminal shanks extending from said loader arm,moving said loader arm means to said final assembly area with its saidcontact pair axis being aligned with the axis of the reed capsule switchwhile it is being final assembled, moving a lower reedblade chuck meansinto a position where the terminal shanks of the reedblades comprisingsaid first half are each received in a slot disposed about the axis ofsaid lower reedblades chuck assembly, moving an upper reedblade chuckmeans into a position where the terminal shanks of said reedbladescomprising said other half are each received in a slot disposed aboutthe axis of said upper reedblade chuck assembly, actuating said upperand lower reedblade chuck means to clamp each of said terminal shanks inits slots therein, moving said upper and said lower reedblade chuckmeans to disengage the reedblades from said loader arm means,withdrawing said loader arm means from said final assembly area,assembling a glass envelope to a glass loader transfer arm means, movingsaid glass loader transfer arm means into said final assembly area to aposition where the axis of said glass envelope coincides with the axisof said upper and lower reedblade chucks and the axis of a glass chuck,closing the jaws of said glass chuck to clamp said glass envelope infinal assembly position, withdrawing said glass loader transfer arm fromsaid assembly area, and moving said upper and said lower reedblade chuckmeans toward each other to a position where both halves of each contactpair are aligned with each other and in the position to be maintained inthe finished reed capsule.
 11. In a method for assembling the reedbladeswitch contact pairs and the glass envelope of a reed capsule switch inaccord with claim 10, the additional step of:applying infrared energy tosaid glass envelope to effect sealing of the reedblade contact pairsinterior of said envelope with said terminal shanks extending therefrom.12. In the method for assembling the reedblade switch contact pairs andthe glass envelope of a reed capsule switch in accord with claim 11, theadditional steps of:actuating said upper and said lower reedblade chuckmeans to release the said terminal shanks, moving said upper and saidlower reedblade chucks away from said assembled reed capsule switch to aposition where the terminal shank receiving slots of said chucks areremote from said terminal shanks, and opening said jaws of said glasschuck to release said reed capsule switch.